'Huw Edwards is due to leave the BBC on medical advice': Moment newsreader on ... trends now
This is the moment a shocked BBC News Channel presenter revealed Huw Edwards had resigned after being suspended nine months ago amid a sex photos scandal.
Newsreader Sarah Campbell delivered the breaking news while presenting live shortly after 2pm today, after a statement was issued saying he was quitting on medical advice.
She provided a lengthy pause as she told viewers she 'just wanted to bring you some breaking news we have coming into the building' before announced Edwards had resigned 'on the medical advice of his doctors'.
There were awkward exchanges for the BBC in the minutes that followed, with one former media executive criticising the corporation for the way it had handled the situation since complaints about Edwards were first made last summer.
Stewart Purvis added: 'The real issue has been that Huw Edwards has been paid up to half a million pounds a year to do nothing - I don't think that situation could continue much longer.'
BBC News presenter Sarah Campbell announced the breaking news of Huw Edwards' departure from the corporation live on air at 2pm today
Huw Edwards (pictured), who has been off air since last July, is quitting following medical advice from his doctors, today's BBC statement said
Edwards, 62, who was on an annual BBC salary of £439,000, had been off air since last July after he was accused of paying a young person for sexually explicit images.
The BBC said today that its star anchor, who broke the news of Queen Elizabeth II's death and presented coverage of most major national events including elections and the Coronation, left the corporation on health grounds.
There was no mention in today's BBC statement of allegations he sent more than £35,000 to a teenager in return for sexually explicit photographs, though the controversy was discussed in this afternoon's coverage.
Ms Campbell began the 2pm bulletin by saying: 'I just want to bring you some breaking news we have coming into the building - just to bring you that news.'
She then paused for several seconds before saying: 'The BBC presenter Huw Edwards is due to leave the BBC on medical grounds.
'The presenter has been off air following reports he paid a young person for sexually explicit photos.
'He has resigned from the BBC on medical grounds, the corporation has said.
'Just to repeat that news, it's been announced in the last few minutes that Huw Edwards, the presenter, has resigned and left the BBC.'
The newsreader, seen here in 2022 on BBC News, has been off air since last July
Edwards was last seen on the screen on July 5 last year when he covered King Charles' visit to Scotland (pictured). Nine months on he has left the BBC on health grounds
His wife Vicky Flind, pictured walking with him in south London in December 2018, issued a statement last summer revealing that Edwards was receiving in-patient hospital care
She discussed the departure with the BBC's media editor Katie Razzall, noting how they were 'still digesting the news'.
Ms Razzall described Edwards as 'a huge towering figure on BBC News, a broadcaster known across the country and wider'.
Mr Purvis, a former editor
